Sanctuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, NM

Sanctuario de Chimayo is a national landmark and a historic church.  It was built in 1816 and is an important Catholic pilgrimage site in the U.S.  The most interesting feature is a small pit where believers are welcome to take a small sample of the dirt.  Photographs inside are not permitted, but the interior is full of charming folk representations of the saints.  Next to the church is a museum of religious art.  All of it has been donated and much of it is skillfully and beautifully done.  Around the church are bulletin boards of photographs of individuals or obituaries with a request for prayers.  There is a nearby creek and the surrounding hills are peaceful.

In the town, there are several well known weavers.  We stopped at Trujillo and bought a table runner.